MOUNT VERNON — Mayor Richard Mavis completed the paperwork Friday morning on the city’s application for a grant from the Ohio Public Works Commission Clean Ohio Conservation Program Fund to buy 25 acres adjoining Ariel-Foundation Park. The application had to be in to the OPWC District 17 office in Newark by 5 p.m. Friday.

The city is applying to buy the section adjacent to the western portion of the park. Mavis said they wanted to buy it in 2006, but could only get enough to buy the area around the west lake, and not the entire 60 acres.

The Grandstaff Family Trust owns the property and has said it is willing to sell the property for $495,000. The city had it appraised by an ODOT-approved appraiser, which set the value at $362,400. The Grandstaffs maintain the higher value is more accurate because it is based on the development potential of the land.

The city has obtained letters of support for the purchase from the Knox County Commissioners, the Knox County Park District and the Foundation Park Conservancy. The Clinton Township trustees have indicated they will also support the action, but they have not met since City Council authorized the mayor to submit the application. The mayor said he has received permission from OPWC to send the township resolution along later.

Contact Chuck Martin

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